Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 04:48:04 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Marshall Iliff Subject: Re: Hummingbird at the SI MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jim, One of my points with my earlier hummingbird post wad that ALL hummingbirds are notable on this date. If a Ruby-throated, it is notably late. If not a Ruby-throated it is even better. If you have a chance to photograph, videotape, or tape record the bird that would be great. Jim Stasz gave a quick rundown on Ruby-thrpated vs. Black-chinned field marks. the shape of the tenth primary is apparently the best single field mark for females, and is illustrated both in the new National Geographic and the new Sibley guide. Tail motion is one thing mentioned in some older field guides and ID materials. Last November I had occasion to tour hummingbird yards in Baton Rouge and saw both Ruby-throated and Black-chinneds over the course of the day (along w/ 5-6 other species). Van Remsen firmly believes that tail motion is a valuable field character BUT that the important part is to watch what they do with their tail WHILE FEEDING. Both species will flip their tails actively while hovering but he believes that only Black-chinned flips its tail while it has its bill deep in flower or feeder. Ruby-throated tails sort of quiver. In my experience that day, and ever since, this has held true, but I have not had occasion to test it thoroughly. If your hummingbird flips its tail actively while feeding though we might want to give it a second look! Best, Marshall Iliff miliff@aol.com Ocean City, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================